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Coronavirus: Rhode Island repeals New York quarantine order, applies it to whole country

Jon Campbell, New York State Team
Published 10:03 a.m. ET March 29, 2020 | Updated 9:56 a.m. ET March 30, 2020

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces plans to close schools for another two weeks, at least until April 15; March 27, 2020.
New York State Team

ALBANY – Rhode Island has repealed its quarantine order that applied only to those who traveled from the state of New York, broadening it to apply to all out-of-state travelers a day after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened to sue.

The updated order late Saturday came after Cuomo and the American Civil Liberties Union publicly criticized Rhode Island authorities for stopping cars with New York license plates and going door to door searching for New York travelers, who were told to self-quarantine for 14 days in an effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in the United States with more than 59,000 confirmed cases and 965 deaths as of Sunday morning, according to the state.

But on Saturday evening, Cuomo argued Rhode Island's actions violated the Constitution and vowed to sue the state.

By the end of the day, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo repealed her New York-specific order, which she first issued Thursday. Instead, she issued a new order requiring a 14-day self-quarantine for any person traveling to Rhode Island from any other state.

"Any person coming to Rhode Island from another state for a non-work-related purpose must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days," according to Raimondo's updated order.

"This quarantine restriction shall not apply to public health, public safety, or healthcare workers."

On Sunday, Cuomo thanked Raimondo for reversing the policy of stopping New York cars as they travel through Rhode Island.

"We thank them for their cooperation," Cuomo said.

But later in the day, Raimondo said Cuomo's assertion is not quite right: Rhode Island authorities will be looking out for all out-of-state plates now, including New York, she said.

She said she made the decision to expand her order before speaking with Cuomo Saturday night.

"If he feels it's important for him to take credit, go ahead," Raimondo said. "I'm going to keep working here to keep Rhode Islanders safe."

Targeting New Yorkers in the spread against coronavirus

Members of the 1207th Rhode Island National Guard unit stand at the Westerly, R.I., Amtrak station Friday, March 27, 2020, to inform passengers from New York of the 14-day quarantine restrictions if disembarking in Rhode Island ordered by Gov. Gina Raimondo. At the time of the photo, no passengers had disembarked at the station.(Photo: Harold Hanka, AP)

New York residents have been the target of several attempts to restrict travel as the New York City continues to deal with the country's worst coronavirus outbreak.

A similar executive order remains in effect in the state of Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed anybody traveling to the state from an "area with substantial community spread" to isolate or quarantine for two weeks.

DeSantis' order, which he issued Tuesday, specifically points to the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as an area with significant community spread.

"Florida is experiencing an increase in individuals fleeing to Florida from states where 'shelter-in-place' orders are being implemented, including from the New York Tri-State Area," DeSantis wrote in his order.

Trump backs off quarantine order for NY, NJ and Connecticut

Rhode Island Air National Guard Tsgt. William Randall, left, and Westerly police officer Howard Mills approach a home while looking for New York license plates in driveways to inform them of self quarantine orders, Saturday, March 28, 2020, in Westerly, R.I.(Photo: David Goldman, AP)

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Saturday floated the idea of implementing an "enforceable quarantine" for the Tri-State area, immediately drawing the ire of Cuomo and other governors.

New York has had a stay in place policy since last week that shuttered all non-essential businesses and closed all schools.

On Sunday, Cuomo said some New York residents feel like they are "under attack." He acknowledged Trump's comments Saturday morning spurred a flood of calls to the governor's office, with people expressing fear about what it could mean.

Ultimately, Cuomo said he supports the travel advisory issued by the CDC.

"No one is going to attack New York unfairly and no one is going to deprive New York of what it needs," Cuomo said.

Jon Campbell is a New York state government reporter for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at JCAMPBELL1@Gannett.com or on Twitter at @JonCampbellGAN.

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